Flexible Automation

Code:

EM0107

Acronym:

AF

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Automation

Instance: 2019/2020 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Automation, Instrumentation and Control Section
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Mechanical Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIEM	18	Syllabus since 2006/2007	5	-	6	45,5	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Introduce the students to modern manufacturing concepts and technologies associated with flexible automation. More specifically prepare the students to be capable of actively participate in the selection, specification, integration and utilization of automation systems used to support the flow of materials and equipments using CNC technology.

Learning outcomes and competences

Students should be able to: (i) recognize the main activities and flows of information in a production system; (ii) recognize the importance of material’s flow control; (iii) understand and recognize the importance of modern manufacturing concepts; (iv) select, specify and integrate equipments for automated storage and transport; (v) select, specify and integrate equipments using CNC technology.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

This course can take advantage of technical knowledge previously acquired:

- electric motors;

- sensors and transducers;

- product data representation and CAD models.

Program

1. INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION AND MODERN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS: flexible automation and modern production systems; importance of both technological and organizational components, in modern production  systems.

2. AUTOMATION AT THE WORKSTATION LEVEL: importance of CNC technology in the development of modern production systems; autonomy, flexibility and integration with other equipments and  systems.

3. COMPUTER NUMERICAL CONTROL TECHNOLOGY: main functions and structure of a CNC controller; components of feed and spindle axis; auxiliary systems; configuration of a modular CNC.

4. PROGRAMMING AND INTEGRATION OF CNC EQUIPMENTS: on-line programming; programming in graphical environments,i.e. CAM; integration CAD/CAM, CLDATA and STEP (ISO10303); manufacturing cells and integration with other systems.

5. AUTOMATION TO SUPPORT THE FLOW OF MATERIALS IN A PRODUCTON SYSTEM: main functions of the transport and storage system in modern production systems; conveyor type systems; AGVS and mobile robotics; automated storage systems; automatic identification and data capture.

6. MODERN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS: evolution of flexibility and integration concepts  in productions systems; technological and organizational planning; agile and lean production. Examples of modern production systems.

Mandatory literature

Suh, Suk-Hwan 070; Theory and design of CNC systems. ISBN: 978-1-84800-335-4
Groover, Mikell P.; Automation, production systems, and computer-integrated manufacturing. ISBN: 0-13-088978-4
Roland Siegwart, Illah R. Nourbakhsh, Davide Scaramuzza; Introduction to autonomous mobile robots. ISBN: 978-0-262-01535-6

Complementary Bibliography

A. Bauer, ...[et al.]; Shop floor control systems. ISBN: 0-412-58150-7
HMT Limited; Mechatronics and machine tools. ISBN: 0-07-134634-1
Altintas, Yusuf; Manufacturing automation. ISBN: 978-0-521-65973-4

Teaching methods and learning activities

This course is based on the following complementary activities that involve lecturing, learning, and associated assessment of acquired knowledge and competences:

A1. THEORETICAL CLASSES: Room classes to discuss concepts and expose the selected technologies.

A2. PRACTICAL CLASSES: The students are organized in groups for analysis and interaction with modular CNC equipment, CAM programming, low cost mobile robot platforms (LEGO NXT), and analysis of more complex examples of modern production systems.

Software

Mastercam

keywords

Technological sciences > Engineering > Control engineering > Automation

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	65,00
Trabalho escrito	35,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	89,00
Frequência das aulas	49,00
Trabalho de investigação	12,00
Trabalho laboratorial	12,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

75% of presences registered on the taught classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

- 65% final written exam
- 35% continuous evaluation based on the results of the case studies.